Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dasmarinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dasmarinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Cebu versus $546 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,345 in Cebu versus $990 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in Cebu versus $1,434 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Cebu is roughly 59% more expensive than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Dasmarinas 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ₱271

$3.51 ₱212

27.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.32 ₱1,472

$13.37 ₱809

81.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱265

$2.70 ₱163

62.22%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱158

$1.62 ₱98.3

61.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₱51.1

$0.53 ₱32.21

60.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱27.77

$0.30 ₱18.40

53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 ₱95.4

$1.03 ₱62.6

53.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱127

$1.35 ₱81.8

56.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱139

$1.63 ₱98.9

41.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ₱96.0

$1.10 ₱66.8

44.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ₱68.2

$0.84 ₱51.1

34.52%

Eggs

$2.37 ₱143

$1.99 ₱120

19.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 ₱778

$5.52 ₱334

132.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 ₱319

$3.84 ₱232

37.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 ₱475

$7.80 ₱472

0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 ₱213

$2.69 ₱163

30.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱88.3

$1.40 ₱84.6

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱197

$1.74 ₱105

87.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱138

$0.69 ₱41.95

230.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 ₱155

$1.04 ₱62.9

145.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ₱155

$2.30 ₱139

11.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₱58.9

$0.73 ₱44.29

32.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱46.73

$0.43 ₱25.77

79.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 ₱191

$2.08 ₱126

51.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.54 ₱396

$9.19 ₱556

-28.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱72.8

$1.07 ₱64.7

12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱142

$2.37 ₱143

-1.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

$0.26 ₱15.69

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.34 ₱928

$4.50 ₱273

240.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₱53.6

$0.87 ₱52.9

2.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.24 ₱14.60

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱158

$2.36 ₱143

10.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱69.0

$1.11 ₱67.4

2.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.5K ₱1.8M

$32.1K ₱1.9M

-5.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K ₱1.6M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

30.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.7 ₱5,851

$44.14 ₱2,671

119.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.82 ₱2,046

$34.55 ₱2,091

-2.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.28 ₱1,832

$26.15 ₱1,582

15.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.35 ₱2,018

$11.79 ₱713

182.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.41 ₱509

$4.52 ₱274

86.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱355

$5.78 ₱350

1.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$232 ₱14.0K

$149 ₱9,017

55.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,944 ₱238.7K

$4,807 ₱290.9K

-17.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 ₱3,135

$48.47 ₱2,933

6.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.34 ₱1,412

$27.44 ₱1,660

-14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 ₱4,593

$75.8 ₱4,585

0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 ₱3,321

$46.97 ₱2,842

16.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 ₱31.0K

$265 ₱16.0K

93.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.7K

$82.8 ₱5,008

153.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 ₱48.8K

$592 ₱35.8K

36.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.5K

$389 ₱23.5K

-0.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,064 ₱185.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,947 ₱117.8K

$407 ₱24.6K

378.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$386 ₱23.3K

$379 ₱22.9K

1.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

25.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cebu: April 22, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Cebu and $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24 in Cebu vs $13 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $174 per month, with Dasmarinas cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cebu vs Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dasmarinas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 2% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Cebu versus $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Cebu versus $546 in Dasmarinas – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 241% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $546 in Dasmarinas versus $870 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Dasmarinas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Dasmarinas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.